Just read this from a Hong Kong morning news site. Sorry I dont have English news source. The news basically stated that it was reported on a Mexican TV channel on Friday that the Mexican drug cartel group "Zetas" had released a member of Anonymous, under the threat that failure to comply with Anonymous' demand of release of its kidnapped member would lead to publication of some of sensitive Zetas' information.

This is the first time I learn that a mafia (or what should we refer to as such a powerful gangster group? whatever) group succumb to the power of a computer hacker group. Months ago I heard that another Mexican drug cartel publicly executed a blogger (also a journalist in occupation) who publicly criticized organized crime problem in Mexico.

Nalano

05-11-2011, 05:19 AM

"Succumb" is hardly the word I'd use to describe their circumstance. They've been blackmailed. That's all: They're annoyed.

Anonymous is mostly suburban white boys who think nothing bad can happen to them. Yet, the Zetas have clearly been able to find some of them.

Wooly Wugga Wugga

05-11-2011, 05:46 AM

Talk about a dangerous game they were playing. You've got to respect anyone who fights against a psychotic, diseased, cancerous, society destroying force like the Las Zetas but jeez could things have turned out different

squirrel

05-11-2011, 06:02 AM

"Succumb" is hardly the word I'd use to describe their circumstance. They've been blackmailed. That's all: They're annoyed.

Maybe I watched too many Hollywood Great USA movies, but from my perception the proper response of a group like a drug cartel would be to kill those hackers in execution style, then hang their bodies in a popular street to warn anyone who think of trying to mess with them. Then US Navy Seal would heroically fight back, and so on.

Seriously, I dont think they would give in to hackers' demand just because they are "annoyed". There must be some sensitive information the hackers are holding that can destroy the criminals. And hackers are human beings, too. If the mafia want to locate them, all they need to do is to tip-off some insiders among the hackers or even local law enforcers. No offense, but I dont think US law enforcers are known for being clean, be them federal or state. Not that Chinese police is clean neither, of course.

DigitalSignalX

05-11-2011, 06:39 AM

Since drug cartels are in the business of selling drugs presumably, not kidnapping, my purely speculative supicion is that the guy was kidnapped to send a subtle message first to anonymous - "you are not invisible" after the cartel learned they had acquired some damaging information. The much more public threat of exposure from anonymous and the guys subsequent release is basically sealing the understanding between both sides. Don't fuck with us, squared.

Nalano

05-11-2011, 06:56 AM

Maybe I watched too many Hollywood Great USA movies, but from my perception the proper response of a group like a drug cartel would be to kill those hackers in execution style, then hang their bodies in a popular street to warn anyone who think of trying to mess with them.

The cartels are certainly in the business of kidnapping people. They are so into it that they kidnap groups of dozens of people at a time.

It was likely that they took him thinking he was either a rival cartel member, someone of money or he was just in the wrong place with the wrong people. They could have just set him free since he had nothing they needed, and end up avoiding having some of their members' information being released. After all, they have actually tried to improve their public image more than once.

DigitalSignalX

05-11-2011, 10:49 AM

So much for speculation then. I know lots of people get kidnapped, but didn't think it was by drug cartels except perhaps to expedite repayment on debts or hostage taking to facilitate some other illegal activity. Curious why they would be branching out, guess drugs aren't as profitable anymore?

Someone call Nancy Reagan and lets get the ball rolling on the War on Kidnapping.

Like most of Mexico's cartels, Los Zetas use violence as a means of intimidation, displaying mutilated bodies in public areas as warnings against would-be police informers or anyone thinking of decrying the group.
In September (http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/213868/20110914/mexico-drug-war-twitter.htm), two people were tortured then hanged from a bridge in Nuevo Laredo for tweeting disparaging messages about drug cartels.
Attached to the bodies were two signs, one of which read "This happens for... denouncing," according to CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/americas/09/14/mexico.violence/index.html). One of the notes also had the names of two blogs, Al Rojo Vivo and Blog del Narco. The notes were signed with a "Z," an oft-used Zetas signature.More : http://www.ghrc-usa.org/Resources/2011/LosZetas.htm

Not only do the Zetas know how to fight, but they have the resources to orchestrate complex attacks, infiltrate police stations, and ambush government convoys, among other strategic military actions. They have a military-grade arsenal of AK-47’s, shoulder-fired missiles, armor-piercing ammunition, fragmentation grenades, heavy machine guns, and even helicopters. Zetas members are trained in prolonged torture and execution, frequently employing such tactics as decapitation, immolation, strangulation, castration, and immersion in toxic substances. In one case, a group of Zetas stuffed four suspected rivals inside diesel-filled barrels, burning the victims alive.

It is a miracle that the anonymous member who was kidnapped wasn't tortured to death.

My god, so Zetas is also the group who hanged two bloggers months ago.

And the fact they are military special force deserters make them exceptionally dangerous - not just that they are formidable military fighter. Their background implies a very strong connection within the Mexican government. How can the cops fight such criminals if you are not sure your "comrades" being with you or with them?

Wooly Wugga Wugga

05-11-2011, 11:46 AM

My god, so Zetas is also the group who hanged two bloggers months ago.

And the fact they are military special force deserters make them exceptionally dangerous - not just that they are formidable military fighter. Their background implies a very strong connection within the Mexican government. How can the cops fight such criminals if you are not sure your "comrades" being with you or with them?

And they are not afraid of the American government either : http://www.examiner.com/county-political-buzz-in-san-diego/los-zetas-cartels-takeover-texas-ranches-revisited

There is a link on the Snopes site that says it is a hoax but the link 404s

squirrel

05-11-2011, 11:50 AM

And they are not afraid of the American government either : http://www.examiner.com/county-political-buzz-in-san-diego/los-zetas-cartels-takeover-texas-ranches-revisited

Chinese's wisdom: if you are backed by your own government, you are not afraid of anyone, including a superpower's government. If the US government wants to intervene, the first thing it has to do is to declare war on the Mexican government. And we all know that's an impossibility... at least for now.

Wooly Wugga Wugga

05-11-2011, 11:55 AM

Chinese's wisdom: if you are backed by your own government, you are not afraid of anyone, including a superpower's government. If the US government wants to intervene, the first thing it has to do is to declare war on the Mexican government. And we all know that's an impossibility... at least for now.

I've been doing some reading about it and I suspect that it is a hoax which several news outlets are swallowing. My bad.

Yep, looks like I fell for it too. do'h http://immigrationclearinghouse.org/en/los-zetas-ranch-invasion-story-a-deliberate-hoax-based-on-bogus-911-call/

squirrel

05-11-2011, 12:09 PM

I've been doing some reading about it and I suspect that it is a hoax which several news outlets are swallowing. My bad.

Yep, looks like I fell for it too. do'h http://immigrationclearinghouse.org/en/los-zetas-ranch-invasion-story-a-deliberate-hoax-based-on-bogus-911-call/

Oops.

But months ago I read on a finance forum www.tickerforum.org about concerns over Mexicans' violation of US territory in Arizona, and the Arizona state accused the federal government for its failure to deploy military to protect them. I am not familiar with the US geography but my guess is Arizona is a state close to Mexico. The state commanded border control even witnessed active duty Mexican soldiers in their uniforms and full military equipments protecting drug smugglers. The thread I read is in the geo-politics breaking news section.

Could be another hoax of course.

Wooly Wugga Wugga

05-11-2011, 12:20 PM

I think it is all a nasty by-product of the American political system. The right wing types are postering Mexicanophobia while the left wing types are having a spectacular kneejerk reaction and refusing to acknowledge that what happens in Mexico is having a huge effect on states bordering Mexico.

Taidan

05-11-2011, 12:28 PM

The reason the're not afraid of the American Government is that the American Government are happily and openly arming them with lots of tasty, tasty weaponry.

But then it seems to be some wrong tactics taken by some reckless cops, not that they intentionally supply the criminals with guns. And after this, those cops would be more careful and not committing such stupid mistake again.

Wooly Wugga Wugga

05-11-2011, 12:53 PM

The reason the're not afraid of the American Government is that the American Government are happily and openly arming them with lots of tasty, tasty weaponry.

Wow, everything about the whole story is just bizarre. From the name - "Fast and Furious" to the fact that either Obama is lying about not being aware of it or he just isn't aware of an operation in which the US government sells over two thousand weapons to criminal gangs in a neighbouring country. Surely the potential diplomatic consequences are serious enough for the president to at least get briefed about it?

Donjo

08-11-2011, 01:47 PM

It's happened before and it'll happen again

http://www.voxfux.com/features/cia_drug_trafficking2.html

http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0825447.html

Is there an english source for info on the Anonymous member, if they were let go? Pretty interesting if they were as it shows they have real clout.

Edit: Crikey- "After the release of the Anonymous threats, the kidnapped member was released with a note that promised to kill 10 people for every name exposed by the group.
"On this day, our anonymous friend retained by the Zetas cartel has been released," a statement on its website said. "We can say that while bruised, he is alive and well. He has sent us a message that if Anonymous reveals a name related to the cartel, the family of the kidnapped anonymous will suffer, and for each cartel member revealed, 10 people will be put to death."